Buffalo Sabers @ Columbus Blue Jackets: 2025 Preseason Game 2

 Last night's first win in Nationwide Arena, 4-1 over the St. Louis Blues, was the best way to kick off the 2025 NHL Preseason. Tonight would promise to be just as exciting as we'd see veteran players such as Adam Fantilli, Kirill Marchenko, Kent Johnson, Elvis Merzlikins, and Jet Greaves. Bonus, it's so nice to hear Zach Aston-Reese in the game again, as he missed the last of the 2024-25 NHL Season due to injury. 

The game would start with Elvis Merzlikins in the net for the Jackets, facing off against Alexander Georgiev and his Sabers. The opening period would see both goalies focused, not letting the few pucks that reached them pass them. There would only be 12 total shots on net for the full period, 8 belonging to the home team, and just 4 belonging to the visitors. This period's most exciting moment would come with less than three minutes left to play in the period, as former Blue Jacket turned Saber, Josh Dunn, and current Blue Jacket, Max CcCue, would get into the first fight of the preseason in Nationwide Arena. Each would receive five-minute penalties that would carry over into period two.

Period 2 wouldn't be lucky for the Jackets. Bowen Byram would see a chance and take it, making Merzlikins and the Jackets pay for it with his first goal of his preseason. Fellow defenseman Radim Mrtka would add his first assist of the preseason on the primary, while Tyson Kozak would add his first assist this preseason on the primary. The goal would come at 4:51. The Sabers' second goal would occur due to them taking advantage of a redirection from Merzlikins. This goal would come at 8:25 and would make the first goal of the preseason for Beck Malenstyn. Owen Power would add his first assist of the preseason with the primary, while Michael Kesselring would add his first assist this preseason on the secondary. Despite their best efforts, the Blue Jackets wouldn't get a goal in the net in this period, either, and they'd head into period 3 down 2-0.

Elvis Merzlikins' night would end halfway through period 2, and this was always the plan. He'd play the opening 30 minutes, leaving Jet Greaves to step in and wrap up the last 30 minutes. Elvis Merzlikins would finish with a .800 save percentage, stopping 8 of the 10 shots his net faced. Surprisingly, Greaves would face more shots in the final 10 minutes of period 2 (11) than Merzlikins faced in his first 30 minutes.

It's also worth noting that the Sabers would pull Alexander Georgiev for the third period, allowing their backup for the night, Devon Levi, to have a chance to show off his goaltending skill set. Georgiev would finish with a perfect 1.00 save percentage, stopping all 16 shots the Jackets put on his net.  

A little tough love, but Jet Greaves was the best-looking Blue Jacket in Period 3. Aston-Reese had a few good chances, too, but it was a rough final period for this team as a whole. The chances for the Jackets were far and few, while the Sabers could've easily run up the score if not for Greaves holding his own. 15:02 would see the Sabers make it 3-0 as they'd finally hit the open net that Head Coach Dean Evanson had pulled Jet Greaves from, trying to kick-start the offense. Jack Quinn would add his first goal of the preseason to his score sheet with this empty net goal. Jiri Kulich would add the primary assist as his first of the preseason, while Josh Dunn would add his first assist this preseason on the secondary. Then, the Sabers would ruin Jet Greaves' perfect night with a fourth goal at 19:11. This goal would become the first of the preseason for Konsta Helenius. Anton Wahlberg would add his first assist of the preseason on the primary, while Vsevolod Komarov would also add his first assist of the preseason on the secondary. The final would be 4-0, Sabers win.  

Jet Greaves would finish with a .9583 save percentage. He'd stop 23 of the 24 shots he faced in the home net in just 30 minutes. These numbers, even with the loss, would give him the Third Star of the Game, and he certainly earned it. 

The Second Star of the Game went to Sabers Bowen Byram, who went 1-0-1. 

The First Star of the Game went to Sabers Goalie, Alexander Georgiev, with his 16/16 save night through Periods 1 and 2. 

I didn't have to say this last night because we won, but a friendly reminder that these games are a warmup for the regular season. This is also a great opportunity for players to learn what they need to work on, and for coaches to learn what players need help with. That said, the Jackets won't have long to think about this loss tonight as they pack the plane for a short trip to face the Buffalo Sabers in their home arena tomorrow night at 7:00 p.m.

Go CBJ!